Welcome to the Scholarship Blog! This is a rolling blog with updates about upcoming scholarships, websites, applications, and deadlines. I have also included links to other helpful websites. Check back often because there are always more scholarships to find and apply for! ---Mrs. Krim

FAVORITE College and Scholarship Blogs.

1. Study Hacks This is quite possibly my favorite blog because it covers topics that include study skills, deep thought, choosing a career and other subjects relevant to any high school students. The blog is written by Cal Newport, a Computer Science Professor at Georgetown University. Every time I read it, I am inspired to work and learn in a more focused manner. I hope that you discover the same thing for yourself! Be sure to explore the blog, especially the older posts which focus on student success. (Check out his books, too!)

2. The UVa Admission Blog: Notes from Peabody The Dean of Admissions writes this blog, and it is focused on the admissions process at the University of Virginia (UVa) specifically. However, even if you have no intention of going to UVa, it is a wealth of information about the admissions process.

3. Kitchen Table MathGreat Blog written by 65 parents and educators. It is a blog about math (obviously...), but is also about reading, writing, and learning! It speaks a lot about the educational movement of public schools, charter schools, and what it means for everyone involved. It's a helpful blog to find out ideas that work for LEARNING--and that's why I'm including it here. Not all the posts may be pertinent to you, but I think it's valuable enough for you to check in often and learn something. If nothing more, take their advice to "read HARD things...things you simply don't understand if you want to become better."

4. Perfect Score Project This website is similar to the book by the same name (see #4 below), but also has a link to sign up for SAT / ACT Prep. At the very least, read through the blog and scan the ideas used for the SAT / ACT prep. The point of the Perfect Score Project is to help students raise their scores on standardized tests--so take time and understand just how to do that!

5. Step Up Utah This website is run by the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority (UHEAA). StepUp will have ALL the state's information on preparing and paying for college in one place, under one name. It's a great resource from the State of Utah. I'd encourage you to check it out...and check back often.

FAVORITE BOOKS about College Readiness and Scholarship Searches.Note: The earlier you read and apply these books, the better off you'll be! Don't wait until your senior year--get started as a freshman!

2. How to Be a High School Superstar: A Revolutionary Plan to Get into College by Standing Out (Without Burning Out) Author: Cal Newport. This is a life-changing book. If it doesn't change the way you approach learning, studying, and living--then you haven't really read it. Really. It's that good. It's all about doing something different and meaningful to help you stand out on college (and scholarship) applications. And instead of approaching high school as a tortuous game of getting the best grades and high test scores, it will help you really love the process of learning and becoming a person worth admitting to a big-name school or awarding a top-dollar scholarship.

4. The Perfect Score Project Author: Debbie Stier. This book is half-manual / half-story of what TO DO (and even more important...what not to do) when approaching the SAT. I loved this book--especially because I was learning valuable information AND it read like a novel! You'll be motivated to study for the SAT (or ACT). Parents--you'll know how to navigate the standardized test with your child. Also--don't wait until junior year to read this book! Start reading it in your freshman or sophomore year. (But if you haven't read it and you are a junior, then read it NOW!)

FALL COLLEGE EVENTS

RMACAC College Fair. College Fair with 120+ colleges attending. Held at Juan Diego H.S. in Salt Lake City. Event is FREE, but students should check out all information about the event at www.rmacac.org Event is held Saturday, October 25. Mark your calendars now and plan on attending. Students in grades 9-12 encouraged to attend.

Utah Financial Aid Night Financial Aid Information and Utah College Night hosted by UHEAA (Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority). Students in grades 9-12 encouraged to attend. A great event to plan financially for college, meet with representatives from Utah colleges, and understand more about higher-education opportunities. These events are held at a few high schools, and students from ALL local high schools are invited to attend the location closest to them. The locations closest to DaVinci Academy are the following: Ben Lomond High School on September 25; Northridge on October 1. Both events start at 6:00 p.m.

Scholarships with September - November Deadlines

ROTC ProgramsSeniors can apply Window OPENS June 2014 for the 2015-2016 School Year (very early application) ROTC stands for "Reserve Officer Training Corps". It's a college program offered at more than 1,000 colleges and universities across the U.S., preparing young adults to become officers in the U.S. military. In exchange for a paid college education and a guaranteed post-college career, cadets commit to serve in the Military after graduation. Each branch of the military has different requirements for their own ROTC program. Check them out: Army ROTC Website;Navy ROTC Website; Air Force ROTC Website;

Weber State Academic ScholarshipsSeniors can applyWindow OPENS September 1, 2014 Weber State "opens" the academic scholarship application on September 1, and any student who would like ANY funding should fill out the application on September 1. They base scholarships on the date the application was completed, even if it well before the "deadline" of January 1, 2014. So--with Weber State--be sure to pay attention to the OPEN DATE, not the Deadline (which most students make the mistake of doing, and therefore don't get any academic scholarship)

Sterling Scholar ProgramSeniors can apply Scholarship program that awards students that excel in a specific academic subjects: English, Mathematics, Social Science, Science, World Languages, Computer Technology, Skilled and Technical Science Education, Family and Consumer Sciences, Business & Marketing, Speech / Theater Arts / Forensics, Vocal Performance, Visual Arts, Instrumental Music, Dance. The program begins at the high school level and advances to the state level, with specific scholarships for each level. Interested Seniors should attend an introductory meeting on Tuesday, September 9th in the DaVinci Library.

Horatio Alger ScholarshipSeniors canapply Deadline: October 2014. Scholarship available for students that excel in community service, display integrity, and have overcome personal adversity. Must have financial need (family gross income under $55,000) There is a STATE and a NATIONAL Scholarship--and you can apply for both (they are separate applications). Scholarship Awards range from $5,000 to $20,000--and MULTIPLE scholarships are awarded.

Daniels Fund ScholarshipSeniors can apply Window September 1, 2014 - November 15, 2014 Scholarships for students that stand out for their character, leadership, and service. The scholarship is for FOUR years, and can be used at ANY college or university. Family should have financial need (family gross income under $55,000) It is very competitive, but it is an amazing opportunity for the student that really excels.

Doodle for GoogleAny student K-12 can apply!Deadline: Fall 2015. Create a "Doodle" in response to specific prompt for yearly competition. Check out the website and the "doodles" of past winners. This is a GREAT Scholarship for Artists and anyone willing to create something creative and inspiring.

VFW Voice of Democracy Contest Grades 9-12 can apply Deadline: November 1, 2014. Essay-speech contest for high school students. Speech must be under 5 minutes, recorded on a CD, and submitted to a local VFW post. State Award: $1,000 AND a full-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. National Award: $30,000 and a full-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. This is a great scholarship opportunity for students who will take time to research, write, and record an original speech on this year's theme: "Why Veterans Are Important to our Nation's History and Future".

United States Senate Youth Program High School Juniors & Seniors can apply Deadline: October 2014. This is a competitive scholarship program for students involved in student government or student council. Students should be interested and knowledgeable about current events. Students advance from the high school level to the state level to the national level. Two state "senators" are sent to a Washington Week and receive a $5,000 Scholarship.

Scholarships with December - February Deadlines

Americanism Essay Contest Open to grades 7-12 Deadline: December 1 This is a great essay scholarship--multiple awards from $2,500 - $5,000.

Regents Scholarship. Apply when you are a senior; begin preparing when you are a freshman. Priority Deadline: December 19, 2014. If you take specific classes in high school and earn a specific GPA, you can receive this scholarship. The scholarship can be applied to ANY Utah college or university, and can be used in addition to college scholarships. Even if you are thinking you would like to go out of state, don't disregard this scholarship. The list of classes needed for this scholarship are very similar to classes needed for acceptance to out-of-state schools. Check it out: www.regentsscholarship.org

Western Undergraduate Exchange Program. Deadline: December 1 of every year. WUE allows students to attend out-of-state colleges and universities at a reduced-cost (MUCH cheaper than paying out-of-state tuition). There are a limited number of WUE slots at each institution--so apply early if an out-of-state college is appealing to you.

The American Legion: Oratorical Contest.Any Student in Grades 9-12 can apply!Deadline: December 5, 2014 Speech Scholarship on the Constitution: a prepared 8-10 minute speech, and a 3-5 minute extemporaneous speech, connected to a specific Constitutional Amendment. See website for details and specific instructions. Check out all the tabs on the website for more information! Contest Website

JFK Profiles in Courage Essay ScholarshipGrades 9-12 can applyDeadline: January 1, 2015 Applicants submit a 1,000 word essay describing an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official during or after 1956, the publication date of Profiles in Courage. Full bibliography required. Top Award: $10,000.

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GE Reagan ScholarshipH.S. Seniors can apply; begin preparing as a freshman.Deadline: January 1, 2015. Students should exhibit strong leadership, service, integrity, drive, academic performance. Students must have financial need, be a U.S. citizen, and plan on enrolling in a 4-year college or university. (Application opens in October. Only the first 25,000 applications will be accepted).

ACLU Youth Activist ScholarshipH.S. Seniors can applyDeadline: January 10, 2015 Students who have demonstrated a commitment to civil liberties. Three scholarships of $1,000 are awarded each year, and can be applied to any college.

Create-a-Greeting-Card ScholarshipGrades 9-12 can apply Deadline: January 10, 2015 Submit ORIGINAL photo, artwork, or computer graphic for front of a greeting card. Images should be appropriate for consumer or business use. See website for more details. (Fun scholarship for someone interested in photography, art, computer graphics)

Zinch One Year Tuition ScholarshipGrades 9-12 can applyDeadline: January 15, 2015 Scholarship UP TO: $20,000. Students must have a 2.0 GPA and compete in a specific category (Business & Entrepreneurship, Community Service, Computers & Technology, Digital Media & Design, Engineering, Leadership & Government, Life Sciences, Performing Arts, Social Media & Communication, Student Athlete). This is a great scholarship where you build your portfolio around a specific area. Also--check out all the other scholarship opportunities on Zinch--including the 3-sentence scholarship which is held every week!

National Honor Society ScholarshipH.S. Seniors can apply.Deadline: January 17, 2015. Students should be members of NHS. Application must be obtained through NHS Advisor. If you are interested, speak to Mrs. Taylor

MESA ScholarshipH.S. Seniors can apply; begin preparing as a freshman. Deadline: January 10, 2015 Students should have excelled in one of the MESA Subjects: Math, Science, and / or Engineering. The scholarship can be used at USU, WSU, UofU, and SLCC. This is a local scholarship, so you students are competing against state applicants only.

Utah NAME Essay ScholarshipGrades 7-12 can applyDeadline: January 20, 2015 (Submit to School Counselor). Students complete an application AND write a 500 word essay on a subject related to civil rights. See application for specific prompts / instructions. The student must submit the applicant AND the essay to a school counselor on January 30, and the counselor submits it to the committee. Awards range from $100 (grades 7-11), to $1,000 (seniors).

Gates Millenial Scholarship H.S. Seniors can applyDeadline: January 15 2015 The Gates Scholarship Program awards 1,000 Scholarships every year to students who have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher, have financial need, are involved in leadership and service, and are African American, Hispanic American, American Indian, or Asian & Pacific Islander American. If awarded, the scholarship will pay the entire cost of college (what is not paid by FAFSA and other scholarships). This is an amazing scholarship, and students should apply if they fit the criteria.

Various College Deadlines: Below is a list of various deadlines for colleges in Utah. The Ambassador Scholarship is for students that are willing to work as an Ambassador at a specific school. The responsibilities vary from school to school, but essentially include giving students tours, helping with office work, and other recruiting responsibilities. It's a great opportunity for a student that excels in leadership and working with people. The Honors Program Scholarship also varies at each school, but essentially gives students a chance to be in smaller classes, work more with professors, be involved in undergraduate research, and of course...receive a scholarship. If you do not see a school and scholarship listed you would like to know about, look at the college website or ask Mrs. Krim for help) ONE NOTE: You must be accepted to the University before you can be accepted to the Honors Program or as an Ambassador.

Weber State University: Honors Program Application Deadline: January 31, 2015 (If you are interested, email the contact on the website immediately to receive the Pathfinder Scholarship Application. You must apply to the Honors Program AND the Pathfinder Scholarship--they are separate applications)

Snow College: Academic Scholarship Deadline; March 1, 2015 (This is MUCH later than other college deadlines. Also check out the Index Score--you might be surprised how much money you could be awarded at Snow College)

Snow College: Ambassador Application Deadline: March 1, 2015 (Note: Even though the deadline is March 1--all students must have an interview ON campus. See website for dates available, specifically those connected to a "Snow Blast")

Courageous Persuaders VIDEO Scholarship Grades 9-12 can apply. Deadline: February 10, 2015 Create an original 30-second video about the dangers of underage drinking. Multiple Scholarships awarded in the amount of $1,000 - $2,000. One grand-prize scholarship in the amount of $10,000. (Fun Scholarship!) Check out previous winning videos

Daughters of American RevolutionH.S. Seniors can apply.Deadline: February 10, 2015 There are multiple scholarships available through the DAR: all accept the same application. Simply copy as many applications as necessary and apply to multiple scholarships. Various awards from $1,000 - $5,000.

One Person Can Make a Difference POSTER Contest Grades 9-12 can applyDeadline: February 10, 2015 Create a poster answering the theme "One Person Can Make a Difference". Must be original 16 x 20 inch original poster. Awards: $1,000 (first place), $500 (second place), $250 (third place)

CTE ScholarshipSeniors can apply; begin preparing as a sophomore or juniorDeadline: February 23, 2015. Great scholarship for students pursuing any major in any of the "CTE" categories. Check out the "CTE" list--it's bigger than you think! This is a state-scholarship, so the odds are highly in your favor. For the past few years, 50% of the students that applied for the CTE Scholarship received it. (Amazing odds for a Scholarship!)

Life Lessons ScholarshipSeniors can apply. Application Window: February 3, 2015 - March 3, 2015. This is a scholarship for a student that has lost a parent. Students submit an essay or video about how the death of a parent impacted their lives, and how life insurance could have made a difference. There are many examples on the website of past winners.

QuestBridge ScholarshipsJuniors can apply.Application Opens: Mid-February. Great Opportunity for juniors (low income, high academics) to attend an elite college for several weeks the summer before their high school senior year. Many different scholarships available--read all about the different opportunities you could have, and be sure to apply for this elite program.

Scholarships with March - May Deadlines

Eagle Scout of the YearSeniors can apply; begin preparing years before. Deadline: March 1, 2015. National Scholarship Competition for best Eagle Scout of the Year. One National Award: $10,000; Runner-Up Award: $2,500 (3 Runner-Up Awards Given).

Economics for Leaders Camp Juniors and Sophomores can apply Deadline: March 1, 2015 Apply for a week-long Economics and Leadership Camp. Apply specifically for one of the weeks at the Boulder, CO university site, and be eligible for a $300 scholarship (final cost = $350, which covers all program materials, board and room). Student is in charge of travel to and from conference. This is a GREAT conference to meet students from all over the country, learn about economic theories and leadership skills, and have an exceptional camp experience!

Walmart Scholarship Seniors can apply Deadline: March 10, 2015 A Scholarship for Walmart employees OR their dependents. Award amount: $1,625 (Can be renewed seven times for a total amount of $13,000)

Youthlinc Awards Juniors & Seniors can apply Deadline: March 15, 2015 This is a $5,000 Scholarship for Utah Young Humanitarians. There are also three $1,000 runner up awards. It is for students that excel at giving back to their communities. Students should really look for opportunities to serve in creative, personal, and meaningful ways.

Utah Jiffy Lube Teen Driver Scholarship Ages 15-18 can apply Deadline: March 20, 2015 (Licensed Teen Drivers) AND April 21, 2014 (Drivers Ed Students) Students write a 500-word essay answering the prompt: "What Drives You?" Students tat are in Drivers Ed compete in one division (April 21 Deadline); Students that have their license compete in another division (March 24 deadline). There is no GPA requirement--it is an essay scholarship only! Check out the videos of past winners and start writing about story.

T.H. Bell Teaching Incentive Program Seniors can apply Deadline: March 20, 2010 The T.H. Bell Incentive Loan is for students going into the field of education. It consists of a waiver (of tuition and fees at the Utah public institutions; $995.00 per semester at private institutions) to be used for a period not exceeding 8 semesters (4 years). The student agrees to teach in a Utah public school for a period equal to the time they received the loan. If you are considering a career in teaching...do not overlook this program!

"Service Above Self" Scholarship Seniors can apply Deadline: March 21, 2015 Rotary Club of Ogden sponsors this scholarship, which is awarded to multiple students that will be attending Weber State University. It is only for students that are attending Weber State, so the pool of applicants is much smaller. The scholarship award is $3,000 and several awards will be given. If you have been service-oriented during high school, take time to apply for this scholarship. (This scholarship application is not online; you will have to ask Mrs. Krim for a hard copy of the application. Please email her at
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American Fire Sprinkler Association ScholarshipSeniors can applyDeadline: April 1, 2015. This is a one-of-a-kind, somewhat funky scholarship. The applicant reads an essay and answers 10 multiple choice questions about the essay. You print out the essay and use it when you take the test. It's an "open book" test / scholarship. 10 Scholarships are awarded in the amount of $2,000; 10 more are awarded in the amount of $1,000. (There is no GPA or financial need requirement, and it can be used at any college / trade school)

Opportunity ScholarshipSeniors can apply Deadline: April 10, 2015 (4:00 p.m.) This scholarship is for students attending Weber State University who are first-generation college students, low-income (but perhaps not eligible for FAFSA), and have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA. Many DaVinci Students should apply for this!

Nordstrom "Ten 4 U" Scholarship Juniors can apply Application Window: February - May 1, 2015. Scholarship contest for juniors with academic achievement (above a 2.7 cum GPA), and community involvement. This is a GREAT scholarship that is open to Juniors only--so take the opportunity and apply for it.

"Stuck at Prom" Scholarship Grades 9-12 can applyApplication Window: March 10 - May 20, 2015. Fun Contest where students create and wear prom outfits made out of Duck Tape. Grand Award: $5,000 Scholarship for each student AND $5,000 for their school. (Students compete as boy-girl teams for the highest scholarship possible; individual students can compete in a different category as well. See website for details)

College Financial Aid Advice H.S. Seniors can apply(and college students)Deadline: May 30, 2015 Fun Essay Contest. Write a 300-word essay about a topic from a list connected with paying for college (College Admissions, FAFSA help, Pell Grants, Student Jobs, etc.) You can enter one essay in EACH subject--so you have multiple chances of winning a $1,000 Scholarship. Great Scholarship for students that enjoy writing and are willing to write 300 words (so easy!)